Chapter 82: Chapter 42: Hooliganism is a Serious Crime

Qin Mei grew uneasy. ’When did I ever tell Second Aunt that?’

"You didn’t say so explicitly, but that’s the impression I got. Plus, with my experience, I’m sure it’s a boy. No doubt about it," Second Aunt said, her face wreathed in smiles.

Qin Mei was speechless. She slipped away without a word.

’Whatever Second Aunt guaranteed or promised Granny Guo is her own business. I didn’t say a thing, so I’ll just stick to my story and claim I don’t know anything.’

Seeing Qin Mei return, the corners of Jie Jingchen’s mouth lifted into a barely perceptible smile. "All settled?"

"I’m actually worried for Second Aunt," Qin Mei said, slumping down beside Jie Jingchen with her head lowered. "Once the baby’s born, I bet Granny Guo is going to have her hide."

Jie Jingchen chuckled. "Don’t you go borrowing trouble. This is Second Aunt’s business. She has her ways, so you don’t need to worry on her behalf."

Qin Mei gazed at Jie Jingchen. ’I really don’t get what Second Aunt is trying to pull.’

’Isn’t it much more pleasant to just watch the fire from across the river?’

"Jie Jianguo! Qiao Yanqiu! Get out here!" a furious roar erupted from outside.

"Who is it now?" Qin Mei sat up straight, her expression wary.

’This time, they’re not looking for me. They’re looking for my father-in-law and mother-in-law.’

Jie Jingchen’s eyes narrowed slightly, a grim look clouding his devilishly handsome face. "Liu Guihua."

The voice wasn’t one Jie Jingchen was very familiar with, yet it wasn’t completely foreign to him, either. He could identify the speaker by sound alone.

"Liu Guihua," Qin Mei repeated, blinking. "Who’s that?"

"Second Sister-in-law’s mother." Jie Jingchen raised a hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. ’Xu Chunyan’s family... another troublesome bunch.’

Qin Mei’s breath hitched, and her heart clenched. "Xu Chunyan’s mother? What’s she here for? A social call?"

’She hasn’t even entered the courtyard and she’s already screaming my in-laws’ names. A social call? It’s obvious she’s here to raise hell.’

Liu Guihua arrived with her son, Xu Chunwang, and Xu Chunyan trailed behind them.

Liu Guihua had a heavy, prosperous-looking build, weighing at least two hundred pounds by the look of her. In an era of food and clothing shortages, managing to pack on that much weight was a feat in itself.

Xu Chunwang was also big and burly; you could tell at a glance they were mother and son. Thankfully, Xu Chunyan hadn’t taken after her mother in the looks department. Even after giving birth to a son, she had kept her figure just right—not too fat, not too thin—and had pretty features.

"Where are Jie Jianguo and Qiao Yanqiu?" Liu Guihua demanded, her face a mask of fury.

"Mom, Father-in-law and Aunt Qiao are at work," Xu Chunyan said, making a show of holding her mother back while shooting a defiant look at Qin Mei from the corner of her eye.

"My precious daughter, look what they’ve done to you!" Liu Guihua cooed, her eyes filled with pity as she looked at the gauze wrapped around Xu Chunyan’s face.

"Whoever bullied my sister, show yourself!" Xu Chunwang bellowed. He took a step forward, his big, burly frame immediately exuding an intimidating presence.

An icy mask settled over Jie Jingchen’s face. He stared coldly at Xu Chunwang, his eyes narrowing as a flicker of fury ignited in their depths.

"Second Sister-in-law," Jie Jingchen said, his deep voice laced with ice and a clear warning.

"Fourth Brother-in-law." Xu Chunyan looked at Jie Jingchen and feigned a troubled expression. "I went home to my parents, and my mom and brother flew into a rage when they saw my face. I know we shouldn’t air our dirty laundry in public, but you know their tempers. I can’t control them."

Qin Mei snorted in disdain. ’I held back. The burn on Xu Chunyan’s face wasn’t even that serious. After a trip to the hospital and a day of rest, she could have gone to work today. But instead of working, she ran home to her parents with her face bandaged up like this. Who would believe she wasn’t just calling for reinforcements?’

’She knew perfectly well that my in-laws work during the day. She brought her mother and brother here under the pretext of looking for them, but they’re really here to take care of me.’

"What are you snorting at?" Xu Chunwang barked, striding toward Qin Mei. Jie Jingchen shot to his feet and moved between them, blocking Xu Chunwang’s path. "Jie Jingchen, get out of my way."

"This is the Jie Family’s home, and she is my wife." A sharp, menacing glint flashed in Jie Jingchen’s amber eyes.

"I don’t care if this is the Jie Family or the Qiao Family. No one bullies my sister and gets away with it," Xu Chunwang snarled, his face clouded with anger. He was about the same height as Jie Jingchen, but had the advantage of a much burlier build.

By comparison, Xu Chunwang was coarse and brawny, while Jie Jingchen was lean and wiry.

"Jing Chen," Qin Mei said, standing up and tugging on his sleeve. ’Jie Jingchen was a soldier, and I have faith in his fighting ability,’ she thought, ’but he’s injured, and his right hand is practically useless. Xu Chunwang looks vicious. If they actually fight, he could probably knock Jing Chen flat in just a few punches.’

"Chunwang," Xu Chunyan called out, stopping him. ’I brought Mom and my brother to the Jie Family home to teach Qin Mei a lesson,’ she thought. ’If my brother impulsively hurts Jie Jingchen, I’ll have a hard time explaining myself to Father-in-law.’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com